Prom 35: Enigma Variations - 13.08.19

[LMcD]

Loved the Enigma in the hall, and listening again really shows the wonderfully character-full playing by instruments as well as ensemble. Such warmth and spice!

One of the presenters said something to the effect that the Variations are scored in such a way that every member of the orchestra feels that he or she has something to contribute and that this brings out the best in the players. That was certainly true of this wonderful performance, which included possibly the quietest and most beautiful 'Nimrod' I've heard since Fritz Reiner. I hope the Japanese (?) contributor to the opening work enjoyed his first hearing of the complete Variations (how can anybody not?)

[MrGongGong]

Not the man - just the music. As if I am being dragged back to a past I never wanted to be in.

Elgar wrote some really wonderful things
But (IMV) the pieces that his disciples (and they really are fanatical) seem to be so in thrall to what, to me, aren't his most interesting or enagaging works.
You can "set your watch" to the whole "Glorious" thing and not only DoG (did I ever mention how i'm not so keen on it ? )

[cloughie]

One of the presenters said something to the effect that the Variations are scored in such a way that every member of the orchestra feels that he or she has something to contribute and that this brings out the best in the players. That was certainly true of this wonderful performance, which included possibly the quietest and most beautiful 'Nimrod' I've heard since Fritz Reiner. I hope the Japanese (?) contributor to the opening work enjoyed his first hearing of the complete Variations (how can anybody not?)

Reiner Nimrod?
I’ve never heard it but googling revealed this:

https://www.stokowski.org/Reiner_Chicago_Symphony_Concerts.htm

A fascinating snapshot of what he conducted with the CSO, much of which he did not record commercially. I wonder how much if any, is recorded in the CSO archives - albeit maybe in not best mono sound?

[LMcD]

I just do NOT get it about Elgar. For me, an instant turn off - at least the orchestral / choral pieces.
Can anyone explain why the composer exercises such a hold?

I can only respectfully refer you to my modest attempt to answer this question on the 'Elgar 29 Jul - 2 Aug' thread in postings #11 and #18. I don't think I shall ever tire of the 'Enigma Variations' or indeed many other works by EE.
Cloughie: I'm referring to Reiner's justly famous Kingsway Hall recording of the Variations with the LSO (coupled with the Brahms 'St Antony Chorale' variations)

[Cockney Sparrow]

I think there may be some confusion here - it seems Monteux's recording fits the bill, but I can't find a recording of Reiner and the LSO (so far)......

http://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2...eissues-part-4 (Record cover image towards the bottom of the web page).

[cloughie]

I can only respectfully refer you to my modest attempt to answer this question on the 'Elgar 29 Jul - 2 Aug' thread in postings #11 and #18. I don't think I shall ever tire of the 'Enigma Variations' or indeed many other works by EE.
Cloughie: I'm referring to Reiner's justly famous Kingsway Hall recording of the Variations with the LSO (coupled with the Brahms 'St Antony Chorale' variations)

Wasn’t that Monteux?

[LMcD]

Wasn’t that Monteux?

Whoops! It was Monteux, of course.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Whoops! It was Monteux, of course.

Well - that does make Reiner's performance of Nimrod pretty "quiet".

[cloughie]

Whoops! It was Monteux, of course.

Easy mistake to make - so many affordable good Monteux, Reiner and Munch recordings on RCA Victrola LPs in the sixties!

[Maclintick]

I just do NOT get it about Elgar. For me, an instant turn off - at least the orchestral / choral pieces.
Can anyone explain why the composer exercises such a hold?

My purely subjective response would be because of the inspiration of his themes and the variety of moods -- yes, often wistful & melancholic, but also passionate, assertive, lyrical and rumbustious -- plus EE's absolute mastery in writing for the orchestra, & his care in composition. For instance, it's been remarked that no member of the orchestra has an uninteresting part in "Enigma Vars", and this applies in spades to the magnificent "Introduction & Allegro" -- my
childhood introduction to Elgar courtesy of the wonderful Sinfonia of London recording by Barbirolli ( & yes, I've heard the PYE/Nixa is reputed to be even better) . Along with the aforementioned I would not part with:

Symphonies (esp the Second)
Serenade
In The South
plus both Wand of Youth Suites & the lighter pieces, Chanson de Matin & so on...

[Alison]

Fascinating mixture of the intimate and grandiose.

[Maclintick]

Fascinating mixture of the intimate and grandiose.

Not so keen on the "public" Edwardian "grandiosity" bit, and even the incense-filled DOG, except for the very occasional live performance, but as I've indicated, there's plenty in-between...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Fascinating mixture of the intimate and grandiose.

Do you mean Elgar's Music or the Forumistas' replies to DracoM so far?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I can only describe not explain 'getting' Elgar by citing my dislike of him until I came across the Barbirolli Philharmonia recording of the first symphony. I didn't like that much either to start with but the scherzo and slow movement began my conversion. I still find the last movement episodic and I detect note-spinning that irritates me but the overall effect always wins me round.
Is there something about the man and the music that you dislike?

I had a teenage resistance to Elgar, because I thought he was only highly rated because we wanted to have a British composer to be proud of. I found the Enigma Variations to be rather boring, even when I heard Barbirolli conducting the work live.

Gradually I came round to the idea that the Enigma Variations was actual rather good, and then I heard Maurice Handford conducting the 1st symphony in Manchester, since when EE has always been at the top of my tree.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

On the TV relay of this concert, I noticed that one of the three trumpeters was playing a rotary valve instrument. I’ve never seen played alongside piston-valve trumpets before.

The two instruments can sound different from one another, so I wonder why this has come about.